Vacuum cleaner



MarcHZl, 1961 c. w. SUNDBERG VACUUM CLEANER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 10, 1958 INVJKENTOR. Carl Zfl-Sunci BY M March 21, 1961 Filed Feb. 10, 1958 c. w. SUNDBERG 2,975,460

VACUUM CLEANER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 21, 1961 c. w. SUNDBERG VACUUM CLEANER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 10, 1958 INVEEZR. an e)" m @Tz w BY 24%,

VACUUlVl CLEANER Carl W. Sundberg, Bloomfield Hills, Mich., assignor to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 714,239

4 Claims. (Cl. 15--323) This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner.

The vacuum cleaner of this invention not only is of compact, lightweight construction having a very low center of gravity but also is one in which the enclosing casing of the cleaner is made up of an upper casing part and a lower casing part defining the cleaner body with the lower casing'part containing upstanding walls adapted to cooperate with the upper casing part to define separated areas, one of which is adapted to constitute a cleaning tool carrier. for transporting cleaning tools. In the preferred construction the lower casing part including the wall portions are of integral construction and preferably part of a single shaped casting.

One of the features of this invention therefore is to provide a vacuuri'cleaner of the canister type comprising a lower and an upper casing part complementary. to each other to define a cleaner body, the lower casing part having a bottom wall, upstanding side, end and transverse walls with the area between the bottom wall, one end wall and the transverse wall being adapted to contain a dirt separating filter and the area between the bottom wall, side walls, other end wall and the transverse wall constituting the cleaning tool carrier portion of the cleaner.

Another and more specific feature of the invention is the provision of such a structure wherein the rear end wall includes integral supporting feet adapted to aid in supporting the cleaner in upright storage position.

Yet another feature of the invention is the provision of such a cleaner in which the rear tool carrier is provided with an enclosing cover preferably also having supporting feet thereon adapted to cooperate with the above-mentioned feet for supporting the cleaner in this storage position.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of one em.- bodirnent thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a cleaner embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional. elevational view taken substantially along line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a front end elevational view of the cleaner.

Figure 5 is a rear end elevational view of the cleaner.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 77 of Figure 5.

The vacuum cleaner of this invention is somewhat similar in general construction to the cleaners shown, described and claimed in the copending applications of C. E. Hansen, Serial No. 612,291, filed September 26, 1956, nowabandoned, and Serial No. 685,977, filed September 24, 1957. The cleaner of the present invention and the cleaners described and claimed in these previous applications have many features in common.

States Patent 0 The cleaner of this invention is of the canister type and as shown in the drawings comprises a lower casing part 10 and an upper casing part 11 each having edges adapted to cooperate with the other to define the body of the cleaner. The two casing parts are joined together at their front edges by means of a hinge structure 12 of conventional design.

The lower casing part is provided with a bottom wall 13, upstanding side walls 14, upstanding end walls 15 and 16 and a transverse wall 17 intermediate the end walls 15 and 16 but considerably closer to the rear end wall 16.

The upper casing part 11 is also provided with side walls 13, top wall 19, a front end Wall 20 and a rear end wall 21. As is shown most clearly in Figure 3, the two front end walls 15 and 20 have their edges cooperating to define the front of the cleaner body. The top rear end wall 21 is generally aligned with and cooperates with the bottom intermediate wall 17 to divide the cleaner body into two parts. The front part 22 of the cleaner body, located forwardly of the walls 17 and 21, is adapted to contain the suction producing means of the vacuum cleaner. The rear part 23, located rea wardly of the walls 17 and 21, is adapted to serve as a carrier for containing the cleaning tools used in the vacuum cleaner operation. The dirt separating filter which is adapted to be removably attached to the inlet tube or horn 24 is of conventional construction and a typical paper bag filter of this type is shown and described in the above-mentioned Hansen application 612,291.

In the preferred construction, as illustrated in the drawings, the lower casing part 10 and the upper casing part 11, including the respective walls aswell as the disclosed partitions, are each of integral construction as illustrated with each preferably being a single casting.

The lower casing part It) also includes an enclosing baflie 25 of generally circular configuration Within the front compartment 22. This baffle extends generally vertically above and below the major portion of the bottom wall 13. The area 13a of the bottom wall enclosed by the bafile 25 is at a lower elevation than the remainder of the bottom wall. This bottom wall portion is adapted to contain an exhaust opening normally closed by a removable rubber closure plug 26, preferably of the type described and claimed in A. B, Bradley Patent No. 2,808,957. Extending upwardly from the bottom wall portion 13a is a short transverse bafile 25a arranged as a chord of the circle defined by the baffle 25. This transverse bafile 25a is arranged adjacent to the exhaust opening, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and the area defined by this transverse bafie 25a and the adjacent arcuate portion of the baffle 25 is covered by a metal plate 27. This metal plate is provided with a pi cular inturned flange 27a to define a circular opening substantially aligned with and having substantially the same internal diameter as the exhaust opening closed by the rubber plug 26. These two openings are aligned in order to support a blower tube arranged within the openings in the customary manner. In order to pro.- vide a diffused path for the exhaust air when the closure plug 26 is in place, the rear of the circular bafile 25 within the area defined by the transverse bafiie 25a is provided with a plurality of elongated slots 28.

Extending around the upper edges of the walls 14, 15 and 17 of the lower casing part 10 is a rubber gasket 29 which is adapted to make a substantially fluid tight seal between the two casing parts when they are in closed position as shown in the drawings.

Extending around the upper edge of the circular battle Patented Mar. 21, 1961- 25' is a rubber gasket 30. Supported on this gasket 30 is a transverse closure plate 31 which is held on the gasket by means of a plurality of bolts 32 extending through the edge of the plate and engaging the baffie 25. This plate 31 contains a circular opening in which is positioned a customary suction unit 33 having its upper end above the plate 31 and its lower end within the area 34 defined on the circular baffie 25. The upper end of this unit 33 includes a multiple stage fan 35 rotated by means of a motor 36 having a lower exhaust end.

This unit is of customary construction with the fan being provided with an inlet 35a protected by means of a felt covered wire screen 37. The air that is drawn into the fan passes down through the motor in the customary manner and is exhausted by way of the area 34 and the openings 28 into the atmosphere. Thus the area 22 of the cleaner body is a low pressure suction area while the area, 3-4- within the baiile 25 is a high pressure exhaust area.

Mounted on the front lower wall of the cleaner is an upstanding sheet metal baffle 38 to which is secured the born 24. Also mounted on this baifie 33 is a spring rubber annular pad 39 adapted to make sealing contact with the inner surface of the front wall 2% around a front wall opening a. Also surrounding this opening 20:: but on the outer surface of the front wall is an attachment 40 for securing the inlet end of a vacuum cleaner hose in the customary manner. Such an arrangement is shown and described more fully in the abovementioned copending Hansen application Serial No. 685,977.

As mentioned earlier the upper and lower casing parts are hinged at the front by means of a hinge 12. The rear end of the upper casing part 11 is held in position bymeans of a roller catch 41 mounted on an integral part 42 of the transverse wall 17. This catch includes a spring metal mounting plate 43 attached to the part 42 and carrying on its upper end a cylindrical rubber roller 44. This roller is adapted to have its bottom part engaging the lower part of an inwardly directed flange 45 attached to the bottom of the rear end wall 21. With this construction the combination of the spring metal plate 43 and roller 44 will hold the upper part 11 in closed position, This upper part may be easily rotated about its hinge 12 by pulling upwardly on the handle portion 46 formed in the upper part of the rear wall 21.

The front part of the bottom wall 13 is provided with a caster wheel 47. The rear portion of the cleaner is also provided with a pair of spaced wheels 48. Forwardly of the caster wheel 4'7 the bottom wall is recessed as indicated at 13b and this recessed part has positioned thereon a rearwardly open concave handle member 49. This handle member which is riveted in position may be engaged by the fingertips of one hand in order to carry the cleaner from place to place as required.

In order to aid in supporting the portion of the dirt separating filter bag in the area beneath the horn 24 there is provided a bottom support plate 50 held in position by means of a screw 51 that engages an upwardly extending stud 52 in the front portion of the bottom wall 13.

Mounted on the bottom rear wall 16 that defines the rear of the tool compartment 23 is a cover 53 for this tool compartment. The cover has a rear wall 54 hingedly connected at its bottom edge to the top edge of the rear wall 16 by means of spaced hinges 55. The upper wall 56 of this cover substantially coincides with the upper wall 19 of the upper casing part to provide an attractive configuration. The cover 53 is spring urged to closed position as shown in Figure 3 and when in this position hides the inwardly recessed handle 46 for the upper casing part 11.

The rear end of the vacuum cleaner body is provided with rearwardly extending supporting feet forsupporting the cleaner in upright storage position. In the illustrated embodiment the cleaner has 'a pair of spaced feet 57 adjacent to the rear lower edge of the bottom wall 16 and an enlongated supporting foot 58 adjacent to the upper edge of the rear wall 54. This foot 58 also serves as a handle to aid in opening the cover 53 and also aids in holding this cover closed when the cleaner is in storage position.

While the invention herein described is a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the invention to the specific form and arrangement shown, it being contemplated that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A vacuum cleaner of the canister type, comprising: a lower casing part; an upper casing part complementary thereto to define a cleaner body, the lower casing part including a bottom wall, an enclosing baffle having one portion extending upwardly therefrom and another portion extending downwardly therefrom, the bottom wall having an exhaust opening therethrough within the space enclosed by said downwardly extending portion of the baffle and adjacent to one side thereof, and an upstanding partition cooperating with a part of said baifle to surround said opening, the partition being of less height than said bafiie; a cosure member extending from said partition to said bafiie spaced above the section of said bottom wall containing the exhaust opening and itself having an opening spaced from said exhaust opening, said downwardly extending portion of the baffle in the part thereof cooperating with the partition to surround the opening containing a plurality of air vents; and means for mounting a suction unit having a low pressure side and a high pressure side on said baffle with the high pressure side within said bafiie, said cleaner body having a suction inlet communicating with said low pressure side.

2. A vacuum cleaner of the canister type, comprising: a lower casing part; an upper casing part cornplementary thereto to define a cleaner body, the lower casing part having a bottom wall, upstanding side walls, upstanding end walls, and an upstanding transverse wall intermediate the end walls, the upper casing part having depending walls extending normally to adjacent the upper edges of said side walls, one end wall and transverse wall of the lower casing part, with the other end wall and portions of the side walls located beyond said transverse wall defining a carrier portion for cleaning tools, the space between the bottom wall, said one end wall and the transverse Wall of the lower casing part and the corresponding walls of the upper casing part being adapted to contain a dirt separating filter; and a cover extending over said carrier portion, said walls of the upper casing part having a vertical extent approximately equal to the vertical extent of the walls of the lower casing part.

3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2 wherein said other end wall and said cover are provided with outwardly extending projections having substantially coplanar ends serving as supporting means for supporting said cleaner in storage position, said cover being hingedly secured to said other end wall to swing alternatively toward and from said upper casing part when the vacuum cleaner is in a cleaning position, the upper casing part surmounting the cover in the storage position whereby the weight of the cleaner aids in holding the cover closed in the storage position.

4. In a vacuum cleaner having a body including a flat wall defining a bottom of the body, means for conducting air flow through said wall, comprising: an annular baffie projecting downwardly from said wall and having a lateral extent less than one-half the lateral extent of said bottom wall; a closure across the lower end of said baffle;

5 and means including a portion of said closure and a portion of the downwardly projecting part of said baffle below the said wall defining; a compartment, an opening in the wall providing direct communication between the space have the wall and said compartment, said portion of the battle having a plurality of openings extending therethrough for discharging air from within the compartment substantially parallel to the said wall, the height of said openings being substantially equal to the height of the baffle below said bottom wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Ashbaugh Dec. 21, 1943 Segesman Apr. 1, 1952 Beck Nov. 4, 1952 Acheson June 18, 1956 Hansen Aug. 21, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain July 18, 1956 

